BIO

" ... A very talented young man with a tremendous technical skill already for such a young age ... might become a powerful man one day in the field of music as a composer …."

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COMPOSER RICHARD DANIELPOUR - JURY COMMENTS​​

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Wei-Shiang Chang (b. 2001) is a Taiwanese composer is a Taiwanese composer. Attentive to sonority, he explores imaginative transformations between sonic and perceptual realities.  Initially trained as a pianist, he began composing at the age of 17, a shift that marked a pivotal moment in his artistic journey.

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In 2023, he was awarded a scholarship from National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and became the youngest finalist at the Vladimir Mendelssohn International Composition Competition in Italy, where he received second prize. His work drew the attention of Grammy Award-winning composer Richard Danielpour, who invited him to study at UCLA.

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In 2024, Chang was selected by Unsuk Chin for the WeiWuYing International Music Festival’s composition workshop, becoming the youngest participant in the program’s history. Later that year, he joined the Hakka Affairs Council x NSO: International Composers Workshop, working closely with Jörg Widmann. These experiences offered invaluable mentorship and helped refine his compositional voice.

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His works have been performed at major venues in Taiwan and abroad, including in Korea, Italy, and the United States. In October 2024, he was commissioned by the NTNU Art Museum, under a project supported by the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs, to compose a new work for Nuit Blanche Taipei—further establishing his presence in Taiwan’s contemporary music scene.

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Currently, Wei-Shiang is pursuing a Master of Music in Composition at the New England Conservatory (NEC), where he studies with John Mallia and Efstratios Minakakis as a Dean’s Scholar.

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His music has been presented at international festivals including VIPA, The Etchings Festival, Ostrava Days, Festival Mixtur Barcelona, and he has been accepted to renowned festivals such as Bowdoin International Music Festival, Mostly Modern Festival, and Brevard Music Center and so. His works have been performed by ensembles and orchestras such as the Taiwan Philharmonic, NEC Philharmonic, NTNU New Music Ensemble, VICE Ensemble, Ecce Ensemble, Quartetto Klimt, and many others.

 

His journey continues as he searches for new sonic languages and evolving artistic frontiers...

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(Last update: May 3, 2025)